Winding machine

ABSTRACT

Braking mechanism for use with a winding machine is disclosed. The winding machine includes a package holder which is movable from a winding position to a displaced position upon interruption of the yarn being wound on the holder. As the package holder shifts to its displaced position a hydraulic push rod is extended to actuate a package holder brake located interiorly of the package holder thereby arresting rotation of the package holder and the yarn thereon.

United States Patent McKenzie [451 July 18, 1972 s41 WINDING MACHINE [56] References Cited 72 Inventor: John McKenzie, Whitefield, England UNITED STATES PATENTS 73 Assisnee: Leesona i n 2,764,362 9/1956 GOOdhLlfi et a] ..242/3$.6 R 3,291,404 12/1966 Walden ...242/l8 DD [22] Filed: Nov. 18, 1969 2,757,874 8/1956 Marcellus ..242/35.6

[21] Appl 877863 Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Attorney-Albert P. Davis and Burnett W. Norton [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Nov. 19, 1968 Great Britain ..54,737/68 Braking mechanism for use with a winding machine is dis- 52 us. Cl ..242/I8 R, 242/1 8 DD, 242/35.6 R The Winding machine includes a Package hldeh which is movable from a winding position to a displaced position 51 Int. Cl. ..B65h 54/10, B65h 63/00 B65h 67/00 imempfi being As [58] Field oi Search 242,18 R l 8 35 5 35 6 the package holder shifts to its displaced position a hydraulic push rod is extended to actuate a package holder brake located interiorly of the package holder thereby arresting rotation of the package holder and the yarn thereon.

6 Claim 3 Drawing Figures Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,482

3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 1

ENTOR JOHN M NZlE ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1972 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN Mc KE ZIE ATTORNEYS Patented July 18 1972 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 wm mm m m b fi $0 mm 5 r, 16 k 1. n is Uflzml A A? a 9i i mm 2 w g z mW H i H @N f 1 ,1 1 f [1 W xi mw 1 V A s u x 7 .f w r \I W 1. v

INVENTOR. JOHN MC KENZIE ATTORN EYS WINDING MACHINE This invention concerns cone winding and particularly a method of and means for finding the yarn end following a break in the yarn being wound.

Various means for finding the end of yarn on a cone being wound following a break are known, but in such means the surface of the cone slides or rolls over some surface during the yarn end finding process.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and means for yarn end finding wherein the sliding or rolling action above referred to is eliminated.

According to the present invention a method of finding the end of yarn on a cone being wound following a yarn break comprises the steps of lifting the cone clear from the winding roller and braking the rotational movement of the cone prior to rotating the cone in the reverse direction in the proximity of a vacuum suction nozzle.

The invention also includes apparatus for practising the method aforesaid.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the drawing wherein FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing a preferred form of the apparatus of the present invention applied to an automatic winding machine;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the package mandrel of FIG. 1 and illustrating its related support and braking structure; and

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view, partly in section, illustrating in detail the particulars of the package support and braking mechanism.

Referring now to the drawing it will be seen that the cone winder includes a rotatably driven winding drum 10, a reversing roller 11 and vacuum section nozzle 12. The mandrel 9 upon which the cone or package P is wound is supported for rotation on a spindle 9' secured non-rotatably at one end of an arm 13 whose other end is pivotally connected to a lever 14. As best seen in FIG. 3, spindle 9 is fixed to arm 13 through the intermediary of a block 42 into which one end of the spindle is pressed. In turn, block 42 is connected to arm 13 by means of a bolt 44. Spindle 9' is normally held in a position parallel to the axis of drum for winding of yarn on package P by a flat spring 45, but the spring is yieldable to permit the mandrel and spindle to be rotated about bolt 44 to a position where package P is projecting outwardly and at a right angle to drum 10 to afford easy doffing of the package. The lever 14 has three positions A, B and C corresponding with the winding position, braking position and reverse roller position respectively of the cone or package P.

The apparatus includes a hydraulic circuit comprising a master cylinder 15 and rotary valve 16 both mounted on the frame of the cone winder, and, further, a slave cylinder 17 which is mounted on arm 13 as seen in FIG. 2. A push rod 18, extensible and retractible in cylinder 17, is adapted to actuate a braking mechanism 24 within the mandrel to arrest rotational movement of the cone, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Braking mechanism 24 may be of any conventional type and, as illustrated in FIG. 3, includes a swingable brake lever 26 aligned to be engaged and swing counterclockwise (FIG. 3) by push rod 18 when the push rod is extended. The inner end of lever 26 is connected onto the upper end of a stud 28 which is D-shaped in its central region. Stud 28 is rotatable in a suitable bore in spindle 9'. A collar 30 with a flange 31 integral therewith is mounted on and slidable relative to one end of the spindle 9', the collar being provided with a cutout section 32 whichmates with the D-shaped portion of stud 28. A spring 34 acts to bias collar 30 into engagement with stud 28. It will be appreciated that collar 30 is non-rotatable by virtue of its mounting on fixed spindle 9 and its engagement with stud 28.

A sleeve 36 having a flange 38 confronting flange 31 is secured on mandrel 9 for rotation therewith. The face of the flange 38 confronting flange 31 is bonded with a disk 40 of friction material. In consequence thereof, when brake lever 26 is swung counter-clockwise (FIG. 3) by push rod 18, D-shaped 75 end on the package,

stud 28 acts to cam collar 30 leftwardly (FIG. 3), forcing the face of flange 31 into engagement with friction disk 40 to brake the mandrel 9 to a halt. Upon release of the biasing force of push rod 18, spring 34 drives collar 30 to an inactive position spaced from flange 38. The piston 19 of the master cylinder 15 is provided with a piston rod 20 which is pivotally connected to the arm 13.

When the cone or package P is in the winding position (as shown in full lines) the weight of the cone and arm 13 is supported by the winding drum and no pressure exists in the hydraulic circuit. In this condition the slave cylinder 17 does not exert any force and the brake is inoperative. As winding proceeds and the cone is built up, the arm 13 pivots about the point of its connection with lever 14. In the winding position the rotary valve 16 is arranged to be just open so that as the diameter of the cone increases and the arm 13 pivots in an upwards direction fluid flows from the top portion of the master cylinder 15.

When a break in the yarn being wound occurs, this is detected by known means of any suitable kind to initiate movement of the lever 14 by suitable mechanical means (not shown) to its braking position B. As the lever 14 swings back to its braking position B the rotary valve 16 is caused to close by means of the lever 21 which forms a connection between the valve 16 and lever 14. The closing of the rotary valve 16 causes a hydraulic lock to occur in the part of the hydraulic circuit connected to the lower part of the master cylinder. The movement of the lever 14 causes the cone to be raised and lifted clear of the winding drum 10, the mandrel moving along the trajectory shown by the full line X. As the cone is lifted from the drum 10 the weight of both the cone and the arm 13 act on the fluid in the hydraulic circuit generating the pressure needed to energize the slave cylinder 17 to cause its piston and push rod 18 to move outwardly to operate the braking mechanism associated with the mandrel of the rotating cone. It will be understood that the arrangement gives a braking effort having a proportional relationship to the weight of the cone, thereby allowing a reasonably constant retardation rate. As the cone is decelerated the centrifugal force acting on the broken yarn end tends to throw it clear from the surface of the cone thereby improving the efficiency with which its is subsequently retrieved.

After the rotational movement of the cone has been arrested, the lever 14 is moved to the reverse roller position C and at a pre-set point in this movement causes the rotary valve to open in response to the corresponding movement of the lever 21. The opening of the valve 16 allows pressure in the hydraulic circuit to dissipate and fluid to be transmitted from the lower portion to the top portion of the master cylinder 15, thus allowing the cone to be lowered on to the reversing roller 11. The mandrel of the cone thus follows the trajectory shown by the broken line Y as it moves from the braking position to the reverse roller position. As the surface of the cone contacts the reverse roller 11 the cone is driven in the reverse direction so that its periphery is swept past the vacuum suction nozzle 12 to enable the yarn end to be retrieved in known manner.

After retrieval of the yarn end the lever 14 is moved back to the winding position A to enable winding to proceed, and the actions of the rotary valve 16 are overriden during this return movement by a non-return valve 22 situated in the piston 19 of the master cylinder 15 allowing fluid to be transmitted from top to bottom of the master cylinder.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations being possible, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, without departing from the scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Winding apparatus comprising, means for rotating a yarn receiving member at a first position to wind a strand of yarn into a package thereon, transfer means operable upon interruption of the strand advancing to said member to move said member to a second position for retrieval of the outer yarn braking means for arresting rotation of said receiving member and said package; and a fluid circuit for controlling said braking means, said fluid circuit including valve means, means for closing said valve means as said member moves to said second position, and fluid control means associated with said transfer means and operable when said valve means is closed to exert pressure on a fluid to operate said braking means.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said braking means includes a slidable member movable in response to said fluid under pressure, and a lever communicable with said slidable member for operating said braking means when said slidable member is moved.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid control means includes a piston connected with said transfer means and operable to exert pressure on the fluid proportional to the weight of said package to thereby produce a substantially constant force on said member by said braking means as rotation of said package is arrested.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim I wherein said second position includes means for rotating said package in an unwinding position to unwind the outer end of yarn on the package.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said braking means is applied as the package moves from said first to said second position, and including means for releasing said braking means as the package arrives at said second position.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid control means includes a cylinder and piston, the piston being connected with said transfer means and being movable in said cylinder as said transfer means operates to move said package from its first position to its second position to thereby exert the pressure on said fluid for operating the braking means, 

1. Winding apparatus comprising, means for rotating a yarn receiving member at a first position to wind a strand of yarn into a package thereon, transfer means operable upon interruption of the strand advancing to said member to move said member to a second position for retrieval of the outer yarn end on the package, braking means for arresting rotation of said receiving member and said package; and a fluid circuit for controlling said braking means, said fluid circuit including valve means, means for closing said valve means as said member moves to said second position, and fluid control means associated with said transfer means and operable when said valve means is closed to exert pressure on a fluid to operate said braking means.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said braking means includes a slidable member movable in response to said fluid under pressure, and a lever communicable with said slidable member for operating said braking means when said slidable member is moved.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid control means includes a piston connected with said transfer means and operable to exert pressure on the fluid proportional to the weight of said package to thereby produce a substantially constant force on said member by said braking means as rotation of said package is arrested.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second position includes means for rotating said package in an unwinding position to unwind the outer end of yarn on the package.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said braking means is applied as the package moves from said first to said second position, and including means for releasing said braking means as the package arrives at said second position.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid control means includes a cylinder and piston, the piston being connected with said transfer means and being movable in said cylinder as said transfer means operates to move said package from its first position to its second position to thereby exert the pressure on said fluid for operating the braking means. 